BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- Former major league All-Star Jose Offerman was charged with two counts of second-degree assault after hitting the pitcher and catcher with his bat during an independent minor league game.
Offerman posted $10,000 bond and is due in Bridgeport Superior Court on Aug. 23, court officials said Wednesday.
Offerman, playing for the Long Island Ducks in the Atlantic League, homered in the first inning. The next inning, he was hit by a pitch from Bridgeport's Matt Beech and charged the mound with his bat.
Man, I grew up with Offerman during his Dodger years. I actually thought he was off having a happy retirement. I definitely didn't expect to see him having a Marty McSorley moment. It's a damn shame.
Seriously, you'd hope there would be something more to provoke this than getting hit.. in the shin.. with a breaking ball. Otherwise among baseball people, I'd guess Offerman goes out remembered as a stinkin' coward. Thank goodness no one was seriously hurt, and apparently no great career is jeopardized. Beech was 8-22, 5.37 (thanks, baseball-reference.com) in parts of three seasons for the Phils about a decade ago.
I am shocked and absolutely pissed about this. As good as we've been doing lately, as positive as the locker room has been, we should have given Riggleman an extension, goddammit.